This is page numbers 49 - 72 of the Hansard for the 12th Assembly, 1st Session. The original version can be accessed on the Legislative Assembly's website or by contacting the Legislative Assembly Library. The word of the day was community.

Topics

Titus Allooloo Amittuq

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I will take that question under advisement and get back to the Member as soon as I can.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Bernhardt.

Ernie Bernhardt Kitikmeot

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister responsible for Municipal and Community Affairs. Would your department, along with this government, be willing to explore an idea regarding the Municipal Act to guarantee elders representation on hamlet councils?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Patterson.

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Dennis Patterson Iqaluit

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. That is the first time I have heard of that idea. I wonder if the honourable Member has considered other implications. It may well lead to other groups, for example youth or women, requesting guaranteed representation on hamlet councils. Having said that, Mr. Speaker, as a quick response to the Member's question, I will nonetheless be willing to consider the Member's suggestion.

I do believe that it might be appropriate to seek advice from bodies like the Association of Municipalities, with whom I expect to meet in the coming year, to see whether this is a concern they have about deficiencies in our municipal legislation. But the short answer to the Member's question, Mr. Speaker, is that I will be willing to consider it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

I would like to take this opportunity to welcome Mr. Bill Erasmus, National Chief of the Dene Nation.

---Applause

Oral questions. Mr. Gargan.

Samuel Gargan Deh Cho

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I have a concern that I would like to express to the Government Leader. Last week when I was in Yellowknife I went into Northern to transfer some money to my family in Fort Providence. At the same time, I also have one boy that goes to school here and we transfer money through Northern to him. I asked the clerk at Northern at that time what the intention is once Northern is transferred to Canadian Tire; whether or not that service would still be provided. The clerk does not know.

This is going to be a concern for a lot of students across the NWT, not only within my constituency, and also even people in Yellowknife that are broke; it is going to be a concern to them that they do not have the money to pick up at Northern today, when moneys are required.

Has Madam Minister looked at what could be done to help those people? Or have any of the other Ministers thought about the implications that the sale of Northern is going to create?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Government Leader, Ms. Cournoyea.

Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, I am like the clerk; I do not know.

---Laughter

I have not taken the detailed analysis of that, but to tell you the truth, I did think about it. I will check into the issue. I do not know exactly which stores are going to be sold, exactly. We can take a look at the implications of that. Thank you.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

The question is taken as notice. Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. I would like to ask the Government Leader, in addition to all the cuts that she has announced to the House, has the Leader also asked each Minister to provide guidelines for departments on different ways in which they can conserve or save money? Has there been some kind of guideline given throughout the administration so that they can tighten up a little bit for the next few months?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Ms. Cournoyea.

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Nellie Cournoyea Nunakput

Mr. Speaker, yes. This has been given out by the Department of Finance.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Supplementary, Mr. Lewis.

Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Supplementary to the Minister responsible for Social Services, my friend, Mr. Whitford. Would it be such a detailed guideline that, for example, if you are an inmate at the Yellowknife Correctional Institute, instead of using your Bic razor for one shave, you have to use that for the whole week now, so you will be saving an awful lot of money by using that razor for a week rather than for one day?

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Whitford.

Tony Whitford

Tony Whitford Yellowknife South

Mr. Speaker, that is a question that probably would be better answered by the Minister of Finance.

The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Finance, the razor is over to you.

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, if the Department of Social Services is making those Bic razors go for a week instead of one day, I am simply delighted. Thank you.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Oral questions. Mr. Lewis.

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Brian Lewis Yellowknife Centre

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have indicated to the government that we have very limited means and we have to really make huge savings. I would like to ask the Minister if these guidelines have provided the kind of detail where people would be so distressed, upset, angry, about -- I will not use the word "stupid" this time -- about unwise directives, that instead of just saving yourself a few nickels over a week or two, you are going to be rebuilding the correctional institute because of the kind of dismay you cause people who are being asked to follow unwise directives?

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Minister of Finance, Mr. Pollard.

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John Pollard Hay River

Mr. Speaker, when the Government Leader announced the 90-day freeze, et cetera, I think most Members would agree that there was an appeal process for all of the cutbacks, including vacancies, including anything that was considered essential. The Government Leader's office has been tremendously busy with appeals, and they have all been dealt with.

We have purposely said to Ministers and deputy ministers that they are going to have to use common sense and we are going to have to manage our way out of the situation. We are expecting those people in the departments who are receiving that direction to act responsibly. So if there are things going on in departments that are causing severe hardship or that are causing mental frustration or have the likelihood of causing, as the Member suggestions, some unrest in an institute, then we would like to know about it so we can correct it. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

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The Speaker Michael Ballantyne

Mr. Koe.

Fred Koe Inuvik

Thank you, Mr. Speaker. My question is to the Minister of Finance. Over the past years there have been studies done on financial institutions, looking at establishing trust companies or credit unions or other alternatives to assist in the cash flows my colleague mentioned. What new initiatives will this government be taking in regard to this issue?